Lung-exercising device



Patented Oct. 4i; 1921.

INVENTOR.

Herzl- 7 N. (2 17)? ATTORNEYZ HENRY IVE. OYEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application filed September F To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that l, T'TENRY M. OYEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Lung-Exercising Devices, of

which the following is a specification.

The device which is, the subject matter of the presentapplic'ation for patent has been designed for the development of deep breathing and exercise of the lungs, and also to serve as an apparatus for the inhalation of medicated air. l

For a better understanding of the benefits arising from theuse of the device, it may be stated that normal breathing in a healthy individual does not require greateffort,

whereas in forcible and prolonged inspiration and expiration much effort is required and brings into greater play the respiratory and abdominal muscles. During normal inspiration acert-ain amount of air is taken into the lungs, and. by forcible inspiration a greater or complemental amount of air is inhaled. After normal expiration there remains in the lungs a certain amount of re serve or supplemental air which can be expelled by forcible expiration. Residual air is the quantity which. still remains in the lungs after the most violent expiratory effort. Forcible and prolonged inspiration and expiration causes a greater expansion and collapse of air vesicles, especially those situated deeply in the lung tissue, strengthens and develops the respiratory and abdominal muscles and allows a freerand, greater exchange of gases, It benefits and enhances also the general circulation of the blood, increasing the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxid in the tissues. Furthermore,it facilitates the expulsion of morbid products from the bronchial and air vesicles of the lungs, thereby assisting nature in the repair of diseased conditions. Forcible and prolonged inspiration is just as essential as prolonged expiration in the development of lung power and in creating the habit of deep Or abdominal breathing. As my apparatus is automatic and adjustable, it can be used by the young or the old, and the weak or the strong.

The following is a detailed description of the device, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

. Specification of Letters Fatent.

nnnanxnnozslno nnvion Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

(,1, 1920. Serial No. 411,718.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the device;

Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an adjusting tool.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the

- body of the device is a tubular member 5 of any desired material and size. In this tube is mounted to slide freely therein, a spoollike plunger member composed of diskshaped end pieces or heads 6 and 7 connected by a rigid rod or stem 8. Adjacent to one end of the tube the latter is fitted with a partition 9 on opposite sides of which the plunger heads 6 and 7 are positioned. The rod or stem 8 passes slidably through a central aperture 10 in the partition 9, and said partition is a disk which fits closely in the tube so as to be stationary therein.

The tube 5 is open at both ends, and in said ends are mounted snug fitting cup-like members 11 and 12, which are centrally apertured as shown at 13 and 14, respectively.

In the tube 5, between the cup 11 and the head 6 of the hereinbefore described slidable plunger, is located a coiled spring 15.

On the end of the tube 5 containing the cup 11 is detachably fitted a nipple 16 which is for a purpose to be presently described.

The heads 6 and 7 of the slidable plunger have peripheral notches 17 to permit the-passage of air past the same.

In the use of the apparatus it is to be understood that the end of the tube 5 containing thecup 12 is employed for expiratory breathing movements, and the opposite end to which the nipple 16 is fitted, for inspiratory breathing movements, the nipple being inserted into one of the nostrils or into the mouth. The direction in which the air passes through the tube is the same in both cases, 6. 9.: from cup 12 toward cup 11. Air enters the tube 5 through the central opening 14 of cup 12 and passes the plunger head 7 through the peripheral notches 17 thereof, and the partition 9 through its central aperture 10, and the plunger head 6 through its peripheral notches 17, then through the central opening 18 of cup 11 and out through the nipple 16. By reason of the restricted peripheral notches 17 and the tension of spring 15, exhaled air entering the tube at the cup 12 meets with a resistance, causing a back pressure which dilates the air vessels of the lungs, and as this pressure increases it causes the plunger composed of the parts 6, 7 and 8 to slide forwardly toward'the air exit end of the tube 5 against the tension of spring 15. It will be noted that the rod or stem 8 is conical or flared at its ends where it joins the heads 6 and 7, and hence the forward movement of the plunger causes the cone-shaped portion adjacent to the head 7 to enter aperture 10' and gradually close the same, thereby increasing the air pressure and prolonging the expiratory breath movement. Should this forward movement of the plungerbe carried to the maximum point it will completel shut ofi exit of air through the tube 5. y virtue of the cup 11 and the stationary disk 9, the spring 15 causes the distal head 6 01. the plunger to be held in close contact with said disk, and hence in an inspiratory breath movement air being drawn in via the cup 11 through the nipple 16 applied to the nose or mouth, a partial vacuum is created which causes a compression of the spring with a following movement of the plunger, thereby allowing air to be admitted through the various apertures hereinbefore scribed. Should this inspiratory breath movement be carried to an extreme point, it will also cause a shut oil of all'intake of air as it would with an expiratory breath movement. 7

The device 18 ad ustable to suit persons of various ages and strength by increasing o'r'decreasing'the resistance of the spring 15, this being accomplished by sliding the partition 9 and the plunger forwardly or rearwardly in the tube 5 to suit the individuals lung capacity. In that portion of the tube 5 containing the spring 15 may be exit of air, a plunger slidably mounted in the tube and spring-pressed in the direction of the air entrance end thereof, said plunger having longitudinally spaced heads and a connecting portion, and a stationary partition in the tube on opposite sides of which the plunger heads are located, the partition having an aperture through which the connecting portion of the plunger heads passes, said connecting portion having means for closing the partition aperture at the limits of the sliding movement of the plunger, and the plunger heads having air passageways of restricted area. rr

2. A lung exercising device comprising a tube open at its ends for the entrance and exit of air, a plunger slidably mounted in the tube, a spring engageable with the plunger for forcing the same in the direction of the air entrance end of the tube,

area, the aforesaid partition and the plunger being adjustable lengthwise in thetube to vary the tension of the spring.

3. A lung exercising device comprising a tube open at its ends for the entrance and exit of air, a plunger "slidably mounted in the tube and spring-pressed in the direction of the air entranceend thereof, said plunger having longitudinally spaced heads and a connecting portion, and a stationary partition in'the' tube on opposite'sides of which the plunger heads are located, the.

partition havingan aperture through which the "connectingportion of the plunger heads passes, said-connecting portion having flared ends adapted to enter: the partition aper ture and close the same at the limits of the sliding movement of the plunger, and the plunger heads having air passageways of restricted area. 7 I

In testimony whereof I aflix-my signature. HENRY M. OYEN. 

